Nor could Dan Dalzell help imitating the grin and
calling out jovially:

“Let me out at the top floor, please!”

Having set the compressed air at work on the forward
tanks, Jack Benson quickly shifted the wrench, and
without a word, getting at work on the midship’s
compartments. Then the stern tanks were emptied.

“May I come up, sir?” called Dan, his
voice trembling with joy, at the foot of the stairs.

“Very good,” Eph sang back. “Room
for only one, though,”

So Dan Dalzell hastily mounted the iron stairs until
he found himself side by side with Eph Somers.

For a few seconds all was inky darkness on the other
side of the thick plate glass of the conning tower.
Then, all in a flash, Dalzell caught sight of the
twinkling stars as the dripping conning tower rose
above the top of the water.

“I have the honor to report that all’s
well again, and that we’re on earth once more,”
Dan announced, as he came down the steps into the
little cabin.

“Attention, gentlemen,” called Lieutenant
Jack Benson, as soon as the “Dodger” was
once more under way, her sea-going gasoline engines
now performing the work lately entrusted to the electric
motors.

At the word “attention” the six midshipmen
became rigidly erect, their hands dropping at their
sides.

“Gentlemen,” continued Benson, “I
realize that the late strain has been a severe one
on us all. We of the ‘Dodger’ have
been through the same sort of thing before.
You midshipmen have not. If you feel, therefore,
that you would prefer to have me head about and return
to the Naval Academy I give you my word that I shall
not think you weak-kneed for making the request.”

“Thank you, sir,” replied Dave Darrin,
“but we belong to the United States Navy and
we have no business to suffer with nerves. If
our wish alone is to be consulted, we prefer to finish
the cruise as we would any other tour of duty.”

Dave’s five comrades in the Brigade of Midshipmen
loved him for that answer!

CHAPTER XII

READY TO TRIM WEST POINT

“Have had an experience, sir, that we shall
never forget, and one that we wouldn’t have
missed!”

Thus spoke Dave Darrin the, following afternoon, as
he saluted the young officers of the “Dodger”
before going over the side as the boat lay alongside
the wall of the basin.

To which the other midshipmen agreed.

“We have enjoyed having you aboard,” replied
Lieutenant Jack Benson. “None of us will
ever forget this cruise.”

Then the six midshipmen strode briskly along the walks
until they reached Bancroft Hall.

It wasn’t long ere news of the adventure of
the night before got whispered along the decks.
Then Dave and Dan, Farley and Page, Jetson and Wolgast
all had so much midshipman company that it was a relief
when the evening study hours came around.